If you guys follow along on Instagram or Snapchat (CBLied), you may have seen that we had a little “staycation” recently in Laguna Beach at the Pacific Edge Hotel. It was so convenient, so beautiful, so fun and left me thinking… why on earth don’t we do this more? I plan to share a lot more next week in a full post, but I am on full staycation mode and am going to be hunting some more gems in Orange County!
This outfit – I mean, you guys know my love affair with maxi’s of any kind. A maxi dress or skirt on the beach is always a good idea, and I wore this little outfit before we had dinner on the beach. This “top” is actually a bodycon dress that I wore underneath this flowy skirt, and I’m already thinking of other ways to wear the skirt – leather jacket and booties, chambray and wedges, crop top and sandals…
Thanks so much for reading! Have you ever had a little vacation in your own city? I’d love to hear about it – I now think staycations are so underrated! XO –
I know we all come up with New Year resolutions (exercise more, de-clutter the house, dine out less and eat in more are always at the top of my list!), but this year, I’ve teamed up with Pro Beauty to share my beauty goals and I’ve already tried implementing them this month.
I used to wash my hair every day. For the past year, I’ve tried to find a dry shampoo that I really love (I’ve been using this one, but I’m still trying to find a good one for brunettes if you have any recommendations) because I want to wash my hair less and find new ways to wear it up. Otherwise I touch it or play with it during the day, making it oily. I have so many baby hairs that my top knots don’t always look as polished as I’d like, so I want to find cute ways to pull it back without leaving braid indentions or creases.
Enter the perky ponytail! I have really fine hair, so I sometimes use this little trick when I want a visually pleasing ponytail. My long hair (that has no body whatsoever – I have hair like a child I’m serious) tends to weigh it down, but I will separate the bottom half, securing it with a hair band. Then I’ll tease and fluff the top portion of my hair, loosely pulling it back over the existing ponytail and securing with a no-crease hair tie.
Leave a few pieces out, create loose waves with the Pro Beauty Tools 1 1/4″ Curling Iron, and you’ve got a sleek and sophisticated pony that will last all day. Trying new ‘do’s like this help me wash my hair every 2-3 days, and it’s a pattern I aim to continue throughout the year.
The 24K gold platted barrel of this iron provides advance heat technology that’s ideal for all hair types. AND for you ladies looking to use less heat on your hair in the New Year, the direct heat of the gold barrel penetrates hair faster so you don’t have to hold the iron in your hair as long, reducing the amount of time your hair is exposed to heat! My fine hair will be thanking me for sure.
Do you have any hair resolutions for 2016? And is this dark hair as jet black to you guys as it feels to me? Yowza! I recently had a stylist bring the color back to my roots and it’s been so many years since my hair has been this dark I don’t even know what to think!
In November when I hosted my Party for Her, Kayla Fruchtman of Healing Waters and The Her Initiative was staying with me and telling me about her experiences with Whole30 – a program challenging 30 days of extremely clean eating (no cheating!), followed by a 10-day reintroduction process to see which food groups may or may not irritate your stomach (quick rundown here).
I was fascinated. I’m not one for a rigid eating program, but the purpose of this is to learn more about your body, how it tolerates foods and how you feel when you eat the way we are intended to eat… I feel like it’s a mostly vegan diet with meat and eggs.
SO, after sharing some of my Whole30 journey on Snapchat (CBLied), you guys were asking questions and screenshotting all my meals. After asking earlier this week if y’all would be interested in hearing weekly updates – the majority of you said yes so here we are! Every Saturday I plan to share some pros and cons of the week and my favorite recipes.
I am 10 days in, so far:
PROS:
I must cook healthier than I thought because the meals taste good and not much different than what we normally eat.
Christian has gotten so into it, which really surprises me!
My skin is totally clear and dewy.
Seeing a refrigerator full of fruits and veggies, organic produce – it makes me feel confident and happy with my purchases. As I learned watching Food Inc. years ago, every time a food item runs across the scanner, you’re voting. As an animal lover, free-range and grass fed is a non-negotiable.
I feel completely debloated and I never feel swollen or overly full after meals.
CONS:
I miss wine. It might be my only real craving.
I don’t like that it makes me avoid social scenarios that involve restaurants or alcohol because I’m concerned I’ll cheat.
Traveling is really, really hard. Even if it’s just a staycation or two nights in LA – it’s hard. Thankfully in California we can eat vegan without the soy and get away with it, but if I didn’t live somewhere so accommodating, it would be even harder.
I’ve had some indigestion getting use to eating so many veggies… my friend Marissa recommend this.
I feel like I spend all my time at the kitchen sink washing dishes, pots and pans… no one likes that!
I’m starting to feel so tired and sluggish all day. They say mid-way through the program you have tons of energy… ready for that to kick in!
FAVES:
Egg scramble with lots of veggies and avocado tastes so indulgent and delicious.
Clementines and apples are some of my favorite snacks.
Let me know if there if there is anything specific you guys are wondering and if you’ve done Whole30 before – I’d love to hear about any favorites you might have! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
Every now and then, I love a timeless dress and this one gives me Coco Chanel vibes with the double fringe hem… yes please! I think this would be such a great dress for a job interview or church – polished, unique and a little bit of fun with the fringe.
And again with the Highland boots. I can’t quit. I love them even more than I thought I would!
AND most of you said you were interested in weekly Whole30 updates, so I plan to share those each Saturday this month! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 (on sale!) | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 (40% off and in 5 colors!) | 11 (look for less at only $125!) |12
I’ve been dreaming in grays and creams lately and I can’t believe all the pretty pieces out there… why do I always think of things I am lusting for after Christmas and my birthday? Not that I need a single thing… but I mean, I need to get my brain in action a little earlier.
This bag is such a great shape and a great splurge (similar look for less here), and this scalloped top has me dreaming of a tropical vacation we’re currently planning! I already snagged this cute little hat for the trip. And glitter sneakers? I mean… yes yes yes!
What were some of your favorite items you snagged over the holidays? Anything left off your list that you might be using some of that Christmas cash for? Thanks so much for reading! XO –
I bet you’re all, “GIRL – you’re in a mini skirt in the snow… what is wrong with you!?” Just to be fair, we photographed these on our last day and it was in the 30’s (rather than the 10 degrees in the days prior), so it felt warm in comparison!
This little skirt may have felt a little too Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman with heels, but with over-the-knee boots an a turtleneck, it was just right. And after a few months of having these boots in both the heeled version and flat version, I am so glad I took the plunge. They elevate almost any outfit and are much more comfortable than most heels I own. If you’re debating – I give them an A+!
Thanks so much for reading! And a little question… I started Whole30 with Christian on 12/31. Would you guys be interested in hearing a weekly update in Friday’s Five about the progress, favorite meals, struggles, etc.? I’ve been sharing my meals on Snapchat (CBLied) and people are screenshotting like cray so I’m wondering if this si something y’all might want to see? Let me know what you think! XO –
First post of 2016!! Thank you guys for all the sweet words in last week’s “best of” post and this Instagram – each of you that engages with me in comments, messages, emails, tweets – you bring so much joy into my life and I can’t thank you enough! I hope everyone had a fab holiday break. I enjoyed some days off myself, and it was the first time I’ve unplugged in quite some time. It felt good.
SO, I’ve had this adorable bar cart since October but it sold out so quickly that I’ve been waiting to share this fun post with you guys until it’s been restocked! So it was restocked a little over a week ago… and then sold out yesterday – oy vey. NO worries – I’m sharing several other bar cart options that are totally affordable and marked down!
It’s obvious what you put on a bar cart… alcohol, right? But there are so many different ways you can style a bar cart. They can be used for multiple purposes, so today I want to share three of the ways I use our bar cart that aren’t your traditional booze cruise on wheels (not that I am against that concept, I fully support it!).
First, we have a coffee cart. A great way to use your bar cart when you have overnight guests! When we have overnight visitors I always pull out the cream and sugar and set the coffee in case they wake before I do and want a cup. I think pulling out a cart, having it prepped (of course the coffee will be in the coffee pot and the creamer will be stored in the fridge) it such a thoughtful touch.
Second is probably the most common way I use this little cart. I fill it with candles and light it when we’re having dinner. It gives that romantic ambiance without cluttering the dinner table.
Lastly, kitchen storage! Adding your cookbooks and some cookware is a really cute way to bring the cart into the kitchen without it looking like you’re pouring wine in your coffee cup. But maybe you are? I’m not judging.
Do you have any ideas for styling a bar cart? I’m always looking for new ways to incorporate it… like a hot cocoa cart, patio bar cart or even nightstand.
Thanks so much for reading – I hope you guys liked this post… I love sharing home posts! XO –
Another year breezed by – Lawd! I put together one of these “best of” posts for the year 2014 here, and I had so much fun going through old posts that I knew I wanted to pull images for a 2015 roundup!
This year was definitely one of the most challenging professionally (more about that here), but looking back, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I learned a lot about myself – how I handle stress (including ways I can manage my stress better, shared here), how to work more efficiently and overall, how sometimes I have to slow down to feel my happiest.
Below are photos from some of my favorite posts – if it’s an outfit in can be found in the fashion category, decor can be found in home and food/drink in… food/drink]!
Do you have any favorite moments or milestones of 2015? Anything you’ve learned that has ultimately brought you to a greater happiness and feeling of fulfillment? I would truly love to hear. I am so so SO beyond appreciative of each and every one of you that come to this blog to read and engage – and I’ve learned so much from all of you. Your advice, support and personal experiences have enriched my life, and I thank you for taking the time out of your busy days to visit CBL.
LOTS of love to each of you as you ring in the New Year! Wishing a mega fun and safe night to all of you – XO –
So maybe I’ve overdone it on the winter white this year (like yesterday, here and here)… but I can’t quit! I think the lighter color can be so refreshing rather than the easy grab of dark denim or black (not that I don’t love black). What I love about this dress is that it can be dressed up with some fur accessories and stilettos or dressed down with a chambray shirt and ankle booties.
And I mean… bring on the fur! I’ve had this gray hat since this summer and have been waiting for the opportunity to wear it! It’s soft, one of my favorite colors and let’s be honest – totally ridiculous. So Carrie Bradshaw, you know I love it.
dress (comes in 3 colors) gloves c/o River Island | heels c/o River Island, no longer available, similar here and here | clutch c/o River Island, no longer available, love this one and this one (on sale!) | vest c/o River Island, no longer available, love this one and this one (on sale!) | hat c/o Monsoon, no longer available, nearly identical here | sunnies | earrings c/o
So sorry several of these items literally sold out in the past two days – boo! I linked as similar of items as I could find. Thanks so much for reading! Tell me (and be honest), would you ever wear this hat? Ha! XO –
We were amazed at how beautiful Convict Lake and Mammoth Mountain were over Christmas break – and it was our first white Christmas! This is our third California Christmas because C doesn’t get enough time off to make a flight all the way to Mississippi, but honestly, they get a little more fun every year and by this year it didn’t feel all that strange to have just the two of us. We hit the mountain to ski on Christmas Day and I was amazed at all of the families there. So fun!
BUT, let’s talk about the clothes, shall we? This River Island sweater dress is so comfortable and soft, I loved wearing it in our little cabin! I clipped a fur scarf to it for one look, and then ditched the fur for a draped coat for another. I think there are several cute ways to wear it, and with these long, warm sleeves – I think I might be pulling it out again for NYE.
How was your Christmas!? And did you have crazy weather? I feel like the coasts have flip-flopped this year – so bizarre. Thanks so much for reading – and don’t forget to check out Nordstrom‘s awesome sale going on! XO –
We are cozied up in a snowy cabin for Christmas in California, but I couldn’t believe all of these after Christmas sales and had to share them with you guys!
Nordstrom: Half-yearly sale with up to 50% off items for women, men, children and home (!!!)
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”
Glory to God and peace on earth! I hope all of you have a beautiful weekend with those that you love, and let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas. We are blessed and thank you guys for blessing me. Lots of love to you and yours – XO –
